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Are any of you football fans? I think it’s football season, right? Please don’t throw tomatoes at me. They’ll only hit the computer screen. It’s just not worth it… I’ll have you know, I went to a football game in high school (once). I was cheering for effort and sometimes for the wrong team. I don’t really want to talk about it.
You can take this Taco salad dip to any party really. It’s just an all-around-amazing dip; sort of like the 7-layer dip, but it holds it’s own. My family members gobbled it up.
This is yet another recipe from DeAnna Pavlenko who shared her Healthier Carrot Cake recipe a few months back. DeAnna, thank you so much for sharing your amazing food with the rest of us!
Taco Salad Dip Ingredients:
1 package Taco Seasoning Mix (we bought Original Taco by McCormick)
1/4 cup water
1 lb lean ground beef (I purchased 7% fat)
1 (8oz) package cream cheese
1 cup cottage cheese (any size curd)
1 cup salsa (we used our roasted salsa, but you can use any salsa)
2 cups (8 oz) finely shredded medium cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded green lettuce such as iceberg
2 cups finely chopped tomatoes
1 avocado, diced, optional
Cilantro for garnish, optional
Taco Chips (or any kind of firm tortillas) to serve
How to make Taco Salad Dip:
1. In a large skillet, brown ground beef (No need to add oil). Drain with a paper-towel if there is excess liquid. My 7% beef didn’t have any extra juices to drain.
2. Combine 1 packet of taco seasoning mix with 1/4 cup water. Once the beef is fully cooked, stir the taco seasoning mix into the beef and remove from heat to cool down.
3. In the bowl of a food processor (we are using the Cuisinart Prep 11-Cup Food Processor, blend 1 cup cottage cheese, 1 package cream cheese and 1 cup salsa until well combined and smooth.
I could just dip my chip right in there.
4. Spread beef into the bottom of a 9×13-inch glass baking pan, or into individual glass ramekins if you want to get fancy, or if you have time to kill. Top the meat with the blended cream cheese mixture.
5. Sprinkle evenly with finely grated cheese. Top with sliced lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado and cilantro (if using). If you aren’t serving right away, you might squeeze some lime juice over your avocado to keep it from browning, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve (if you have the will power not to eat it right away).
Serve with Taco chips; naturally. These are the organic chips from Costco. They are so good. My husband has to pull the bag away from me when I finish my dip because I just keep eating the chips (true story). :-O
Taco Salad Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 package Taco Seasoning Mix, we bought Original Taco by McCormick
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 lb lean ground beef, I purchased 7% fat
- 1 8oz package cream cheese
- 1 cup cottage cheese, any size curd
- 1 cup salsa, we used our roasted salsa, but you can use any salsa
- 2 cups 8 oz finely shredded medium cheddar cheese
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- 2 cups finely chopped tomatoes
- 1 avocado, diced, optional
- Cilantro for garnish, optional
- Taco Chips, or any kind of firm tortillas to serve
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef (No need to add oil). Drain with a paper-towel if there is excess liquid. My lean 7% beef didn't have any extra juices to drain.
- Combine 1 packet of taco seasoning mix with 1/4 cup water. Once the beef is fully cooked, stir the taco seasoning mix into the beef and remove from heat to cool down.
- In the bowl of a food processor, blend 1 cup cottage cheese, 1 package cream cheese and 1 cup salsa until well combined and smooth.
- Spread beef into the bottom of a 9x13-inch glass baking pan, or into individual glass ramekins. Top the meat with the blended cream cheese mixture.
- Sprinkle evenly with finely grated cheese. Top with sliced lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado and cilantro (if using). If you aren't serving right away, you might squeeze some lime juice over your avocado to keep it from browning, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve with Taco chips; naturally.
This was a hit. I love how this recipe included shredded lettuce.
I used a mix of jack and cheddar cheese because I didn’t have enough cheddar. I also used my homemade tomatillo salsa instead of red salsa. I added finely chopped red onion to the top. I tossed the avacado in lime juice to keep the avacados fresh.
It was like eating an actual taco with each chip bite. I will definitely make again.
Hi Claudia, thanks for sharing your experience making this recipe. So happy to hear that you loved it!
Hi Natasha. I was wondering what dressing do u use when u make taco salad?
Hi Olga, I haven’t made a taco salad in a while, but ranch is often used.
Do you make your own roasted salsa? If not what brand do you use. (:
Hi Lisa, we use our own roasted salsa but you can use any brand too.
Is it spicy ?
Dana, this dip is normally not spicy but you can control the spiciness by the kind of salsa will be added.
This recipe is sooooo good!!! I made it once to a youth party and now I’m being asked to make it again and again!!! So easy to make also!
I’m happy to hear that everyone loves the recipe! Thanks for sharing Svetlana!
Excellent dip!
I’m glad to enjoyed it Monica! Thanks for sharing 🙂